Film viewing editor



M. s. WOLK FILM VIEWING EDITOR May 1, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb.21, 1949 VN Mm INVENTOR. Michael 6. Walk y 1, 1951 M. s. WOLK 2,551,482

FILM VIEWING EDITOR Filed Feb. 21, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F. 02 E 3 j J,7

CIDDUDOO Patented May 1, 1951 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in film viewing editorsand more. particularly to a novelly constructed viewing .and markingdevice used in editing motion picture film.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a film viewingeditor with novel means to project an image upon a viewing screen, whichmeans involves the use of a prism and a mirror as distinguished fromknown prior devices using mirrors only.

Another object is to provide a film carrier assembly capable of easyinsertion and removal from a film viewing editor.

Another object is to provide a film carrier with novel structuralfeatures adapting it .to be opened and closed readily.

Another object is to provide a film carrier consisting of hingedlyconnected lower and upper plates with novelly constructed hingedlymounted nlm marking means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a film viewing editor withnovel means for projecting the image upon a viewing screen.

Another object is to provide a novel combination film carrier andmarking device.

Another object is to provide a novelly constructed, rugged and efficientfilm viewing editor.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following description and claims and are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, which by way of illustration show a preferredembodiment and the principle thereof and which is considered to be thebest mode contemplated for applying that principle. Other embodiments ofthe invention embodying the same principle may be used and structuralchanges may be made as desired by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the present invention and the purview of the appendedclaims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal central .sectional View through a filmviewing editor embodying features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view through i the film receiving endof the filni viewing editor, taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical fragmentary sectional view of the film viewingeditor, taken substantially on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the film carrier.

Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are, respectively, perspective views of the threeelements constituting the film carrier shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the prism used in the film viewingeditor.

Fig. 9 is a view of a fragment of film illustrating the marking providedthereon by the device of the present invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings and wardly oi the front wall t2.

are adapted to provide a mounting for a con-- oi condensing lenses 27.

. the opening '29.

particularly to Fig. 1, the film viewing editor illustrated includes ahollow, cast base H which is substantially rectangular in shape andincludes a iron-t wall 42, a back wall iii, a top wall #4, and sidewalls I 5. The top wall 14 has a pair of transversely spaced apartupstanding bosses it and wall portions 51 arranged rearlhese wallportions densing lens supporting frame 18 which includes a horizontallydisposed area !9 and a substantially vertical upstanding flange 2B. Theflange .223 is suitably apertured to receive therethrough a socket 2iadapted to receive in disengageable connection therewith a conventionallamp bulb 22. The lamp bulb is, of course, comiected by lead wire 23 toa switch 25 mounted in the back wall I3 of the base. A current supplyline 25 is connected to said switch and extends out through an openingin said back wall for connection with a source of electric current.

The horizontally disposed portion [9 of the condensing lens mount isprovided with 2. cylindrical well 2t within which is arranged a pairThese lenses 2! are in vertical alignment with the center of the lightbeam emanating from the lamp 22. The bottom wall 28 of the circular well26 is provided with an axial opening 29 to permit the passage of thecondensed beam of light therethrough.

The top wall M of the base H is provided with a substantiallyrectangular depression '30, an end area of which is in verticalalignment with This depression 30 is oil-set transversely from theopening 29 and its remote end is in direct communication through an openside 3'! with a horizontal projection lens socket 32 defined by thebosses It. The projection lens socket is adapted to receive therein aprojection 'lens 33 which is held in place firmly against a shoulder 34by a split retaining ring 35. Obviously, other structurally suitablemeans may be provided to retain the projection lens in the positionillustrated. It is essential, however, that the projection lens bedisposed in a vertical plane for purposes to become apparent presently.

The rectangular depression 30 is provided to receive a prism 36, bestshown in Fig. 8. This prism has overall dimensions corresponding to thedimensions of the depression 30 so as to fit snugly therein. The prism38 is substantially rectangular in shape and it includes a top surface31, perpendicular side surfaces 38 and 39, and a bottom surface 4|. Theend of the prism disposed below the condensing lenses is cut at aan'gleto provide an inwardly downwardly inclined fiat reflecting surface42. The other end of the prism likewise is cut .at a 45 angle to providea vertically planular angular flat surface 43, which surface is insubstantially axial registration with the projection lens 33.

Obviously a light beam projected from the lamp 22 through the condensinglens 21 enters the prism 36 through the top surface 31 thereof. The beamof light entering the prism as aforesaid strikes the inclined prism endwall and is projected longitudinally therethrough onto the verticallyplanular inclined surface 93 which projects said beam horizontallythrough the projection lens 33. The projected light beam strikes amirror 46 mounted firmly in an angular position on an upwardly inclinedsurface 9'! formed on the back end of the base top wall Hi. Thereflected light beam then is directed upwardly angularly onto atranslucent screen 48 mounted in a shielded opening 49 provided on theupper end of a housing i which is arranged over the base II in themanner shown and may he detachably secured thereto as by means of ascrew 52.

The hous ng 51 includes a front wall 53, which merges with a top wallportion 54 to enclose the lamp, and side walls 55. in the front wall 53and extends a substantial distance rearwardly along the side walls 55.This slot is of substantial width, as shown, and its bottom edge 5'l isin horizontal alignment with the top surface of the prism 35. This slotis adapted to freely receive a negative film carrier '59 preferably ofthe kind. best illustrated in Figs.

4 through '7, inclusive.

As illustrated, the film carrier 58 includes a bottom plate 59, anintermediate plate 6|, and a top plate 92. The bottom plate 59 issubstantially rectangular in shape and is of a width correspondingsubstantially to the depth of the slot 56 in the housing walls. Theplate 59 also is of a length corresponding substantia ly to the width ofthe housing 5! and it is provided on each end edge with a down-turnedlip 53 adapted to engage over the housing side walls 55 to preventtransverse displacement thereof when the latter is positioned withinsaid slot. A shallow channel 64 is provided in the top face of thebottom plate 59 to prevent marring of the film as it passes therealongduring the feeding of such film throughthe film carrier. Proper guidancefor said film at the entrance and exit ends of the film carrier 58 isafforded by a pair of transversely spaced apart lugs 95 formed on eachend of the bottom plate 59. The present disclosure shows the lugs spacedapart to receive an 8 mm. film. Spacing of the lugs further apart willaccommodate a 16 mm. film.

A pair of ears 66 is struck upwardly at each end of the bottom plate 59adjacent its back edge. These ears are apertured, as at 61, each toreceive a longitudinal projection 68 provided on the end edges of theintermediate plate 6! whereby said plates 59 and BI are hingedlyconnected along their rear edges so as to be movable into open andclosed positions to facilitate the threading of the film therebetween.The intermediate plate BI is preferably of a shape correspondingsubstantially to the shape of the bottom plate 59. It preferably isprovided on its end and front edges with upwardly inclined margins 69which terminate short of the longitudinal center to provide a gap for apurpose to be explained presently.

The top plate 92 is substantially smaller in its overall dimensions thanthe plates 59 and 6! and it is provided adjacent the rear ends of itsside edges with a pair of projections H which extends loosely throughapertured lugs 12 preferably The wide slot 56 is out 4 struck upwardlyout of the body of the intermediate plate 6| adjacent its rear edge. Itshould be evident at this time that the three plates 59, 6|, and 62, arehingedly connected together so as to be movable about substantiallycommon axes into and out of close association one with the other.

All of the plates constituting the negative film carrier are providedwith registering out out areas, indicated at 13, to afford suchclearance as is required by the presence of the projection lensmounting. Both plates 59 and iii are provided with apertures 14 and 15respectively which are in registering alignment with the path of thelight beam passing through the condensing lense 26. These registeringopenings are substantially rectangular in shape and afford means wherebyimages carried on film 19 as it moves over the channel 64 are projectedthrough the prism 36 and projection lens 33, onto the mirror 46 and arereflected against the screen 48 for observation. The opening 15 in theintermediate plate BI is larger than the underlying opening M in theplate 59.

The bottom plate 59 has an aperture H which is in register also with theopening E5 in the intermediate plate 58. Th s aperture is intended topermit free passage therethrough of a piercing tang l8 struck downwardlyout of the top plate 52. Normally, the tang 18 is held above the bottomface of the intermediate plate 5| so as not to interfere with freepassage of the film 16 over the channel 64. Such normal positioning ofthe tang 18 is afforded by providing a spring 19 in association with thetop plate 62. As best illustrated in Fig. l, the spring i9 issubstantially U- shaped and is provided with in-turned ends 8| which arefirmly anchored beneath struck out strap portions 82 in the plate 51.The intermediate or bight portion of the spring 19 rests upon the topface of the intermediate plate 6! so as to thereby normally hold the topplate 62 elevated angularly.

When it is desired to mark the film passing through the film carrier forpurposes of removing or identifying a frame or frames being viewed, thetop plate 62 is pressed downwardly about its axis preferably by manualfinger engagement with the forwardly projecting end 34 of the said plate62. This forwardly projecting end 84 lies between opposed ends of themargins 69 of the intermediate plate and extends outwardly beyond thefront housing wall 53 so as to be readily accessible for suchengagement.

Marking of film by means of the tang iii in the manner describedhereinabove, and as illustrated at 85 in Fig. 9, is of particularimportance inasmuch as it permits the marking of film in the immediatearea of the frame being viewed. Heretofore, when a frame being viewedwas to be marked, it was necessary to advance the film several frames soas to bring the selected frame into an accessible position for marking.Obviously, the present manner of marking the film obviates anypossibility of erroneous or inadvertent marking.

Although an exemplary form of the present invention has been disclosedin detail in the accompanying drawings and specifically described in theforegoing specification it should be understood that the invention iscapable of embodying a wide variety of modifications in detail structureand assembly without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A film carrier comprising a pair of hingedly connected along one edgefor ings in the plates when the third plate is pressed toward the hingedplates.

2. A film carrier comprising a pair of plates hingedly connected alongone edge for movement into open and closed positions, said plates eachhaving an opening, a third plate hingedly connected along one edge tothe hinged edge of one of said pair of plates, said third plate havingan opening, all of said openings being in registering alignment topermit light rays to pass therethrough and through a film threadedbetween the pair of plates, means normally holding the third platespaced from the hinged plates, a piercing tang on the third plateadapted to pierce the film track in the area or the frame in registerwith the openings in the plates when the third plate is pressed towardthe hinged plates, and. a channel in the film contacting surface of oneof said hinged plates.

3. A carrier for strip film having an image carrying portion and an edgeportion, comprising in combination: a base plate and a second platehingedly connected together along a com mon edge for movement into anopen position and a closed position, means for guiding a film betweensaid plates, said base plate having a channel in that surface contiguoussaid second plate and aligned with said film guiding means to registerwith said image carrying portion of a film, said base plate furtherhaving an opening in said channel for framing a frame of said imagecarrying portion, and a hole immediately adjacent to said channel andsaid opening therein to underlie said edge portion of a film, saidsecond plate having an opening therein overlying said base opening andsaid hole adjacent thereto, a third plate positioned above said secondplate and hingedly connected along one edge to the hinged edge of one ofsaid underlying plates, a spring normally holding said third plate in aninclined position relative to said second plate, said third plate havingan opening therein through which a beam of light may pass to impinge ona film traversing said aligned openings in said base plate and saidsecond plate, and a piercing tang extending downwardly from said thirdplate to extend through said opening in said second plate to mate withsaid hole in said base plate upon moving said third plate toward saidsecond plate, whereby said piercing tang perforates the portion of afilm ad jacent to that frame thereof in register with said aiignedopenings.

4. A film carrier comprising in combination: a base plate having anopening therein, a second plate contiguous said base plate and having anopening therein in alignment with said base plate opening, means forguiding a, film between said plates to traverse said aligned openingstherein, means for separating said plates to thread a film in said filmguide means, a third plate hingedly connected to one of said contiguousplates, means normally holding said third plate spaced from said secondplate, said third plate having an opening therein which is in alignmentwith said openings in said contiguous plates, to permit light rays topass therethrough and through a film in said film guide means, and amarking member on said third plate positioned to extend through theopening in said second plate to mark said film in the area of the framein register with said opening in said base plate when said third plateis moved toward said second plate.

5. A film carrier comprising a pair of plates hingedly connected alongone edge for movement into open and closed positions, means forthreading a film between said plates, said plates having alignedopenings therethrough to permit light rays to pass through a filmthreaded between said plates, a third plate hingedly connected along oneedge thereof to the hinged edge of one of said pair of plates, a springbetween said third plate and said one plate to normally hold said thirdplate away from said one plate, said third plate having a finger tabportion digitally engageable to urge said third plate toward said pairof hingedly connected plates, and a piercing tang on said third plate,said tang being adapted to pierce the film track in the area of a framein register with the openings in said pair of plates when the thirdplate is pivotally moved toward said pair of plates.

MICHAEL S. WOLK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,908,990 Ledig May 16, 19331,934,582 Bausch et al. Nov. 7, 1933 1,947,668 Warmisham Feb. 20, 19341,948,842 Curran Feb. 27, 1934 2,211,218 Serruier Aug. 13, 19402,231,765 Landrock Feb. 11, 1941 2,297,222 Kemna Sept. 29, 19422,313,860 Bogue Mar. 16, 1943 2,422,816 Baia June 24, 1947 2,444,732Fitch July 6, 1948

